Moistening apparatus for tobacco.



No. .s4-9,606. l Patented may l5, |900. A. v. Hvsoae.

MOISTENING APPARATUSl FUR TOBACCO.

(Application med Aug. 26, 1899.) @No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shed I.

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No. 040,606. Patented May l5, |000. l'

A. V. HY-SDRE. MOISTENING APPARATUS FOB TOBACCO.

- (Appl'imion med Aug. 2e, 1899.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet` 2.

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UNiTnD STATES PATENT firmen.

ALPllENAS V. HYSORE, OF PHILADELPIllA, PENNSYLVANIA.

lVlOlSTENING APPARATUS FOR TOBACCO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 649,606, dated May 15,1900.

Application led August 26,1899. Seria-l No. 728,588. (No modelay To all'1l/7mm z'ft 77mg/ concern.-

Be it known that I, ALrHnNAs V. Hvsonn, of Philadelphia, in the countyof Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Moistening Apparatus; and I do hereby de clarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in apparat-us for moisteningtobacco.

Heretofore much difficulty and vannoyance have been experienced bytobacco-growers to keep the tobacco su fficiently moist in dry weatherto permit handling, it being necessaryin manyinstances for the farmersto pack and ship their tobacco only when the Weather is damp. On accountof this fact it is very desirable that some means be provided where bythe tobacco-grower can moisten his tobacco at any convenient part of thefarm and at any season of the year.

It is therefore one object of my invention to provide means for domesticuse by farmers for moistening the tobacco sufficiently to render itpliable and safe to handle without curing it and Without subjecting itto an amount of moisture which might cause it to mold.

A further object is to moisten tobacco in such manner that thecollection of Water in drops on the tobacco will be effectually avoided.

A further object is to provide an apparatus for the purpose stated whichwill be simple in construction, easy and simple to handle, in which theuse of heat shall be avoided, and which shall be effectual in allrespects in the performance of its functions.

Vith these objects in view the invention consists in certain novelfeatures of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, ashereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective viewillustrating an embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view.Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the blankets. Fig. 4 is a view showingthe blanlets with the tobacco sandwiched between t lem.

A represents an upright frame mounted upon a basin B and provided with anumber of guides or ways l for the reception of removable blankets 2.Each blanket 2 comprises two layers 3 3, preferably of woolen material,secured at their edges to a frame 4 of wood or other suitable materialand having disposed between them a layer 5 of sponge or other suitableabsorbent material. A perforated pan 6 is secured upon the frame A overthe tier of blankets, and water is supplied to this pan from anyconvenient source. The apparatus is preferably mounted on wheels.

The frame A having been filled with blankets or moisteners 2 and the panG supplied with water, the Water will be discharged in small streamsthrough the perforations 7 in said pan and become deposited upon theupper blanket of the tier. After this upper blanket shall have becomesaturated the Water will be discharged upon the next blanket and so onthroughout the series of blankets. When the blankets shall have becomesufficiently moistened, one of them will be removed from the frame andplaced upon a suitable support. Tobacco to be moistened Will be placedupon this blanket and then another blanket will be placed upon thetobacco. A tier will be built up in this manner consisting of a numberof blankets with the tobacco spread out and sandwiched between them. Themoisture held by the Wet blankets Will be gradually absorbed by thetobacco without possibility of water settling in drops on the latter,and the tobacco will be thoroughly moistened (without the application ofheat) and rendered sufficiently pliable to permit handling Withoutdanger of being broken or crumbled. The tobacco may be kept sandwichedbetween the blankets for any desired length of time, and, in fact, itmay be shipped in this condition without danger of injury to thetobacco.

The moistening-frame will preferably be provided with a small pump 8 forthe purpose of pumping the drip-Water from the lower pan or basin B tothe upper perforated pan 6.

My improvements are very simple, avoid the use of heat, and theconsequent annoyance of a boiler and a furnace, and can bo readilymanipulated by persons unfamiliar with tobacco-curing without danger ofinjuring the tobacco.

Various slight changes might be made in the details of construction ofmy invention Without departing from the spirit thereof or limiting itsscope, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the precise detailsherein set forth. l

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. Apparatus for moistening tobacco consisting of a series of blanketsadapted to have tobacco sandwiched between them and means for moisteningsaid blankets. i

2. Apparatus for moistening tobacco consisting of a series of blankets,each comprising a rigid frame two layers of fabric and an interposedlayer of absorbent material, said blankets adapted to have tobacco sandwiched between them.

3. In an apparatus for moistening tobacco, the combination with a frameand a series of blankets adapted to be removably placed in said frame,of means for discharging water upon said blankets.

4. In a moistening apparatus, the combination with a frame, of a seriesof blankets removably supported thereby and a perforated pan over saidblankets.

5. In an apparatus for moistenin g, the combination with a frame, abasin under the frame and a perforated pan upon the frame, of a seriesof removable blankets mounted in said frame between lthe basin and pan.

6. In an apparatus for moistenin g, the combination with a frame havinga series of Ways, a basin under said frame and a perforated pan upon theframe, of a series of removable blankets supported by the ways of theframe and means for pumping drip from the lower basin to the upperperforated pan.

In testimony whereof I have signed this speeiieation in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

ALPI-IENAS V. HYSORE.

Witnesses: v

JOHN P. ADAMS, ALFRED H. DAWSON.

